Irene, Goodnight: A Weaver has died

william osborne says:

Is it still folk music if it’s in Carnegie Hall, and performed by a group that was always based in Greenwich Village? Is it still folk music if it has an orchestral background as some of their early albums had?

To avoid problems during the McCarthy era the Weavers stopped performing their most political songs, and stopped performing at progressive venues and events. This approach increased their bookings. When beliefs are watered down and styles commercialized, is it still folk music?

Later Pete Seeger was identified as a communist by an FBI informant. He was called to testify before HUAC, but refused to speak on First Amendment grounds. He was found in contempt and placed under restrictions. The Weavers, of which Seeger was a member, were then placed under FBI surveillance and barred from television and radio broadcasts. Rightwing groups protested and harassed them at their performances. Under these conditions, the Weavers disbanded in 1952. Decca terminated their contract and deleted their records from its catalog in 1953. It was not until the 60s that the group was able to begin working again, though they still suffered from the effects of blacklisting.

In what kind of country is even a folk song so dangerous?